Small Business

©2017 Women Entrepreneurs GROW Global .   All rights reserved. from The Global Small Business Blog http://ift.tt/2kLq0Pb 5 Basic Elements to a Global Social Media Plan (Webinar)-Small Business

©iStock/bestdesigns What's affecting me, my clients, my colleagues and other global small business owners: Five (5) basic elements of a global social media plan ; webinar 2/1 by IBM digital marketing and commerce expert Melisa Hinojosa (the cool part of the deal -- it's no charge). Why you should be strategic in your international expansion plans. What factors have the biggest impact on SMEs' businesses?  Find out what other SMEs worldwide think and get tips and insights that could help drive the success of your business .  If e-commerce is growing, why is Wal-Mart laying off e-commerce employees ? Can you keep up with Chinese global e-commerce customers ? USA President Trump's protectionist measures and the risk of trade wars . from The Global Small Business Blog http://ift.tt/2kFPkWW Today in Global Small Business: What Do SMEs Worldwide Think?-Small Business

©2017 Laurel J. Delaney.  All rights reserved. from The Global Small Business Blog http://ift.tt/2jAhXGg The Global Small Business Blog Pushes Past 75,000 Monthly Readers (Thank You)!-Small Business

©iStock/fazon1 How did Inc.com arrive at the top ten global startup hubs in 2017? It appears to be based on the sheer number of accelerators, startups, working spaces, tech companies, and millionaires in a city throughout the world -- fueled with heavy government support and investment opportunities.  Here's the list. London Paris Berlin Los Angeles Boston Singapore Bangalore Stockholm Moscow Tel Avid Read more about specifics here . from The Global Small Business Blog http://ift.tt/2k8TFUy Top 10 Global Startup Hubs of 2017-Small Business

©iStock/ake1150sb Geri Stengel, president of Ventureneer , writes a great piece for Forbes on How Exporting Can Improve Your Bottom Line.  We are honored to have been a key part of the article and especially grateful to see a mention of our favorite nonprofit, Women Entrepreneurs GROW Global (disclosure:  Laurel Delaney serves as President of WEGG, which is a 501(c)3 organization). Thank you Geri Stengel ! Read more here . from The Global Small Business Blog http://ift.tt/2jV0tmL Improve Your Bottom Line Via Exports-Small Business

from The Global Small Business Blog http://ift.tt/2jQCu84 Can We Make Globalization Work?-Small Business

©iStock/eternalcreative From choosing the right market to learning how to set prices thoughtfully, this is your cheat sheet to growing a global business . Here's an article I [Laurel Delaney] penned for GoDaddy. from The Global Small Business Blog http://ift.tt/2knwpTR Laurel Delaney's Cheat Sheet to Growing a Global Business-Small Business

©iStockVogelSP What's affecting me, my clients, my colleagues and other global small business owners: Forecast:   72 percent of SMEs plan to grow their international customer base by 2017 . How can small businesses not only expand by selling globally, but also ensure that they have a successful outcome despite economic or political uncertainties?   Here are five strategies . Five (5) basic elements of a global social media plan ; webinar 2/1 by IBM digital marketing and commerce expert Melisa Hinojosa (the beauty:  no charge). Sage CEO warns policy makers in Davos : Do not ignore global small businesses! The growth of artificial intelligence (AI) in ecommerce ( info graphic ). The women's marches around the world -- a powerful force to be reckoned with. from The Global Small Business Blog http://ift.tt/2jhvin1 Today in Global Small Business: Business Builders Are the Heroes of the Global Economy-Small Business

©iStock/oatawa Hundreds of thousands of women plan to meet today (1/21/17) at the Capitol (USA) to demonstrate their freedom and the freedoms of those they love. Here's where you can learn more: What you need to know about the women's march. The app for live updates . Women's March on Washington . Women's March on Washington ( Facebook ). Women's March on Washington ( Facebook ). Women's March on Washington ( Wikipedia) . Women's March Chicago . from The Global Small Business Blog http://ift.tt/2jY4JBH The Day After-Small Business

from The Global Small Business Blog http://ift.tt/2jVypiO The 45th President of the United States of America: Donald J. Trump-Small Business

©iStock/Ugreen Unsure of how to dive into international markets?  Or are you opting to avoid it altogether?  Especially with recent international uncertainties such as Brexit (UK) and the new President-elect Trump (USA), being wary is understandable. Yet, how can small businesses not only expand by selling globally, but also ensure that they have a successful outcome despite economic or political uncertainties? Here are five strategies.  The first one being diversify your selling to different markets and countries. Read more here . from The Global Small Business Blog http://ift.tt/2jwvLAb How to Dive Into International Markets-Small Business

from The Global Small Business Blog http://ift.tt/2jrVHgt Will President-Elect Trump's Trade Policies Impact the Global Economy?-Small Business

©iStock/julief514 According to BizBuySell.com, an internet business-for-sale marketplace, annual small business transactions reached record levels in 2016, topping the previous year’s totals by 8.6 percent and 2014’s previous high by 4.6 percent. The question remains:  Are small businesses selling their businesses because they want out now as opposed to a wait and see approach or are they really selling because it feels like a healthy environment to make a move?  Only time will tell. Overall, small business indicators point to a healthy market for buying and selling in 2017,” House [President of BizBuySell.com and BizQuest.com] said. “Although there will certainly be issues to watch under the new Trump administration, as long as small business financials continue to improve and a steady supply of listings enter the market, transaction activity should continue its momentum well into the new year.” Read more here . from The Global Small Business Blog http://ift.tt/2jycgcm

©iStock/NicoEINino Seedrs , the London-based crowd funding network with an international outlook, with investors and entrepreneurs from more than 60 countries using the platform, has partnered with a major Chinese venture capital (VC) firm for one of the largest international entrepreneurship competitions. Seedrs Founder, Jeff Lynn, added: "IEIC [the China Innovation and Entrepreneurship International Competition] is building bridges amongst global startup communities and will be an invaluable experience to ambitious young business founders. Applications for the IEIC are open until February 28, 2017. You can enter the competition here . Read more .  Note:  Seedrs will be opening to American investors shortly. from The Global Small Business Blog http://ift.tt/2jsm6wZ Building Bridges in the Global Startup Community-Small Business

©iStock/SeanPavonePhoto What's affecting me, my clients, my colleagues and other global small business owners: Illinois wins $850,000 for small business exports. How can you grow your social media presence globally?  Easy.   Right here . Here's a hint on how to create jobs in a rapidly changing global economy. The UK is it for Snapchat who bucks the trend on its selection for international HQ . Will the UK be forced to change economic model if single market access denied? A revisit of digital globalization in the new era of global flows. Imagine a world without hate ... a tribute and in memory of Martin Luther King Jr. from The Global Small Business Blog http://ift.tt/2jQhQnp Today in Global Small Business: Imagine a World Without Hate-Small Business

©2017 Laurel J. Delaney.  "Mellie."  All rights reserved. "Time spent with cats is never wasted." ~ Sigmund Freud from The Global Small Business Blog http://ift.tt/2juNbMX The Mellie of All Cats-Small Business

©iStock/manfelyang Forward-thinking global SME owners and managers are continuously embracing technology to streamline processes and restructure their business models for greater profitability.  As a result, outsourcing is becoming a priority.  It is estimated to be a global market place worth over $600 billion per annum with cost-savings being the primary reason for doing so. How do you choose the right outsource partner?  Read more here . from The Global Small Business Blog http://ift.tt/2isc1Pq Embrace Technology to Streamline Processes-Small Business

©iStock/nandyphotos According to the Washington Times and based on numerous studies, Egypt's ideal entrepreneurial ecosystem fosters the growth of entrepreneurial and innovative ventures and has five main pillars: Access to funding. Entrepreneurial culture. Educational systems supporting the entrepreneurial mindset. Accommodating regulatory and tax regimes. A coordinated approach linking the public, private and voluntary sectors. Egypt seeks to not only attract foreign innovation-driven ventures to capture its high potential youth market, but it is also wants to support local entrepreneurs to unleash their potential in the domestic and international markets. Read more here . from The Global Small Business Blog http://ift.tt/2io7QUM Egypt Supports Local Entrepreneurs to Unleash Their Potential Internationally-Small Business

©iStock/amianmathur The bar-office chain Social is now rocking India but its founders are graduates from the culinary school of hard knocks.  In India, many investors have created wealth from food but seldom overnight.  Big factors to success in this industry include timing, experience, experimentation and luck. And of course along the way there will be inevitable setbacks. Read more here . from The Global Small Business Blog http://ift.tt/2jv9LVh Bar Chain Social is Rocking India-Small Business

©iStock/petrenkod American president-elect Donald Trump met yesterday (1/9) to discuss Alibaba executive chairman Jack Ma's plans to create 1 million U.S. jobs by growing trade between U.S. small businesses and Chinese consumers. According to Scott Kennedy , director of the Project on Chinese Business & Political Economy at the Center for Strategic & International Studies, Ma intended to set the structure of Alibaba’s business with the U.S. in a framework Donald Trump understands, as an innovative company that is creating jobs for both Chinese and Americans. "It was a very productive meeting," Ma told reporters. "The door is open to discuss the relationship on trade issues." Ma specifically mentioned agricultural products such as wine and fruit that could be sold through Alibaba to consumers in China and Asia. Read more here .  And then there are other issues which must be overcome first , namely pirated and  counterfeit goods . from Th

©iStock/Anchly What's affecting me, my clients, my colleagues and other global small business owners: American President-elect Trump's view of the world and trade. Rumors of Hillary Clinton's comeback and what that could mean for NY . What makes things cool ?  Put your marketing cap on to figure out. Foreign brands rush into cross-border e-commerce .  Indiana wants to bring a World Trade Organization to its state . How the Swedes are ditching desks to work from strangers' homes (you read that right and this movement referred to as  Hoffice could be a sign of the times ahead worldwide). from The Global Small Business Blog http://ift.tt/2i8XzYZ Today in Global Small Business: The Hoffice Movement Spurs Better Use of Collective Intelligence-Small Business

©2016 Laurel J. Delaney.  All rights reserved. Good wholesome food for the mind and the body in Rogers Park, Illinois, United States:   Heartland Cafe .  See it by day as well. from The Global Small Business Blog http://ift.tt/2iTu3el A Place You Never Grow Tired Of: Heartland Cafe in Rogers Park, Illinois-Small Business

©iStock/Pinkypills Opportunities abound for entrepreneurs in the new year.  Yet, finding and capitalizing on them requires knowing what to look for and how to decipher quality from quantity and which ones offer the greatest impact for business growth. Jim Squires, director of market operations at Instagram, shares insights with Small Business Computing, predicting that entrepreneurs will face no shortage of opportunities for success in 2017. Read more:   Small Businesses Going Global and Embracing Mobile in 2017 from The Global Small Business Blog http://ift.tt/2i0bfsw SMEs are Embracing Global Mobile: Here's Why-Small Business

©iStock/Oko_SwanOmurphy We've been following Geri Stengel , president of Ventureneer , for quite some time with her reports on what's happening and needed for women entrepreneurs to prosper and grow in the USA.  Below she pens a mighty good piece: 14 Assists That Will Help Women Entrepreneurs Score in 2017 via @Forbes (# whatWEneedtosucceed ). Don't miss it.  Especially if you are, like I am, a woman entrepreneur.  Pass it along. from The Global Small Business Blog http://ift.tt/2j821rL The Future of the American Economy: Women Entrepreneurs-Small Business

©iStock/Rawpixel With or without the Trans-Pacific Partnership, the challenge remains the same: The United States must maintain its dominant position as a world trade leader.  Otherwise, companies big and small will be at a competitive disadvantage in the international marketplace. The election is over, and campaign rhetoric must give way to real dialog. The issue isn’t just the future of TPP, but the future of our country’s participation in the global economy. How will we compete? Read more here . from The Global Small Business Blog http://ift.tt/2j8ZbH7 TPP: The Future of Our Country’s Participation in the Global Economy-Small Business

And if you are interested in looking forward at global trade trends 2017, go here . from The Global Small Business Blog http://ift.tt/2hNrbzW A Look Back on 2016: 10 Top Trends-Small Business

©2017 WEGG.  All rights reserved. What's affecting me, my clients, my colleagues and other global small business owners: Kick off the new year with one key aspiration:   go global . By the way, Happy New Year! Pick up some tips that Laurel Delaney wrote about on pricing products for global shipping . How to go global on social media in just four steps . Check out how the new global director for the integrated supply chain, e-commerce and tech innovation at Mondelez International is reinventing how and where they sell their snack food products. Ooh la la or Rue La La eCommerce goes global . Join Laurel Delaney for her Global Trade Trends 2017 Report on 1/4/17 (webinar -- no charge). from The Global Small Business Blog http://ift.tt/2hJOiLx Today in Global Small Business: Laurel Delaney's Global Trade Trends Report 2017-Small Business